High chair



June 1, 1926.

I 1,587,253 J. P. TARBOX HIGH CHAIR Filed Jan. 15, 1924 2 Shets-Sheet 1 25 e o /3 m m 57 5 27 29 j 21 es 0 22V 14 0 19 FIG .6.

16 o H 1 9 22 H o R\ Q g) 20 11 o c 35 u IHVENTOR Jon v PEI/950A. Y 74,

ATTORNEY June 1 ,'1926. 1,587,253 J. P. TARBQX 7 HIGH CHAIR Filed Jan. 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z5. 15 12 26 F165. 24 g" 30 28 1 I ,1 36 1 46?, 2

o 39 $24 0 I 1 I 27"0 o w 35 29 O 31 19 14 51 Z 51 11 a f .34

INVENTOR' JOHN P. FA/650A- |1lmill!l l|l|||l|!lli Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOHN P. TARBOX, 0F GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK.

Bren; canny.

Application filed January 15, 1924. Serial in. 686,292.

My invention relates to chairs and is concerned more particularly with the socalled high chairs of children.

Among other characteristics of the invention the following may be enumerated:

One, the provision of certain essential adjustments, which, collectively considered, adapt the chair to the particular size and physical characteristics of the occupant; two, the organization of the essential chair parts in a manner such that one or all of such partsmay be separately or independently adjusted; three, the organization of vsaid'chair parts in a manner such that the chair in its entirety may be collapsed or folded, to occupy when collapsed, a minimum of space; four, the organization of said chair parts in a manner such that the folding or unfolding of the chair may beeffected regardless of the adjustments accorded the several chair essentials; five, the

. arrangement of the seat, back rest and arms of the chair in a manner such that the pivot axes about which said parts are adapted to pivot in a folding operation, define collectively, at all times, the several apices of a parallelogram; six, the support of the back rest jointly by the seat and arms in all positions of adjustment; seven, the interconnection of the arms at the back of the chair by means of a combination hand grip and cross brace; eight, the disposition of one of-the adjustable foldable chair parts in a manner such that said part when folded is adapted to be locked in its folded position, and at the same time is adapted to so engage the remaining-folded chair parts as to hold said parts in place; and nine, the construction of the chair, as a whole, along such lines and of such materials as to insure quantity production at low production cost. Still further characteristics of the invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like or corresponding parts.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the chair; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the chair parts having been, first folded or collapsed;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view;

Fig. 5 is a perspectlve view of the tray;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spring lock; 1 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the chair adjusting devices, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a slight modification.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration a high chair is shown. Said chair comprises front legs 10 and rear legs 11 hinged at their upper ends as at 12, each'hinge connection, there being two, one for each pair of chair legs, being provided with a metal guard 13. Intermediately of their upper and lower ends the rear chair legs 11 are cross braced by a vertical series of suitably spaced rungs 14:, each rung being fixed or non-adjustable in its relation to said rear chair legs 11. The

forward chair legs 10 (as shown) are somewhat longer than the rear chair legs 11 and when unfolded or extended are very appreciably inclined to the vertical.

fixed rung 15 may be provided. The rear legs are preferably vertical and the legs collectively so laterally spaced and arranged as to encompass between their upper portions a free and unobstructed space.

Both pairs of chair legs 10 and 11 are At Y the foot of the forward chair legs 10 a be hereinafter explained. The apertures 18 of the front chair legs 10, unlike the apertures 16 and 17 of the rear chair legs 11, are arranged in a single series, said apertures 18 being vertically spaced a distance equal to the space between the apertures 16 with the chair legs extended or unfolded as indicated in Fig. 2. Actually, however, the spacing of the apertures 18 is slightly greater than the s acing of the apertures 16 to the end that t e efi'ective spacing, due to the angularity of the forward legs, may be the same. Preferably. said apertures 16, 17 and 18 are'extended' only part way "in the rear of series 17,

' apertures 23 formed therein, which apertures 23, in conjunction with a horizontal series of apertures 24 formed, a single series in each of said arms 21, admits of the desired independent horizontal adjustment of the back rest designated as 25. Said back rest 25 (see Fig. 2) is at all times jointly supported by the seat 19 and the arms 21, and in order that the arms 21 ma be adjusted vertically independently of t 1e seat each. side rail of the back rest is provided with a vertical series of apertures 26.

Within each of the o posed series of apertures 16, 17, 18, 23 an 26, appropriate ad justing devices are adapted to en e. These adjusting devices aredesignate respectively as 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33. Each said device is of a construction permitting of its forced withdrawal from engagement in the a ertures into which its opposite ends exten The adjustim device 2 is jointly carried by the side rails 22 of the seat 19 and at its opposite ends is adapted to engage in the corresponding apertures of the opposed vertical series 16 formed in the rear chair legs 11. Thus arranged said device 27 oflers at all times a pivot support for the seat 19, the height -of which. may be varied according to the selected position of adjustment accorded the adjusting device. The adjusting device 28 is carried jointly by the arms 21, and like the adjusting device 27, it is adapted to extend across the full width of the chair and to engage at its opposite ends, not in the apertures 16 of the rear legs, but in the apertures 17 thereof. Said device 28, thus positioned serves as a pivot support for the arms 21, the pivot axis being out of vertical ali nment with the pivot axis of the seat a distance equal to the lateral spacing of the apertures comprising the separate series formed in the legs 11.' The adjusting device 31, unlike the devices 27 and 28, extends across from one to the other of the front legs of the chair beneath the seat 19 to provide, in conjunction Withthe adjusting device 27, the seat support. .At its.

opposite ends said device 31 is adaptedto engage in any opposed pair of apertures 18? forming the single series of apertures of the forward chair legs 10, and as the arms 21 and the back rest 25 are in all positions of adjustment, positioned above the seat 19, obviously said device 31, while directly supporting the seat 19 at a forward point,

indirectly supports both the back rest 25 and the chair arms 21. By according the devices 27 and 31 equal adjustment vertically with respect to the chair legs with which they are respectively associated, the seat 19 may be correspondingly vertically adjusted. The adjusting devices 29 and 30, unlike the remaining adjusting devices of the total number thereof, do not under any circumstances, en-

ge in the apertures of either pair of chair egs. Said devices 29 and 39 are at all times carried by the back rest 25, and with the adjusting devices 27 and 28 define pivot axes, arranged at the apices of a parallelogram, about which the seat, the. arms and the back rest fold. The adjusting device 29 is preferably disposed at the foot of the back rest 25 and at its opposite ends is ada ted to engage in the apertures 23 of the si e rails 22 of the seat. The adjusting device 30, which is positioned above and out of alignment with the adjusting device 29, a distance equal tb the spacing of. the adjusting devices 27 and 28, is adapted to engage in the apertures 26 of the back rest as well as in the apertures 24 of the arms. Thus arranged, by simultaneously adjustmg the devices 29 and 3,0 with respect to the apertures 23 and 24, horizontal adjustment of the back rest 25 may be effected without disturbing the geometrical arrangement of the several pivot axes previously described. To adjust the arms 21 independently of the seat 19, and likewise without disturbing the geometrical arrangement of the pivot axes, it is necessary that the devices 28 and 30 be similarly moved. The arrangement of the apertures 17 in the rear legs 11 and the apertures 26 in the back rest 25 admit of such adjustment.

The foot rest 20, like the seat 19, is pivotally supported at its rear end, the adjusting devlce 32 providing the necessary'suppol't. Said device 32 engages, at its opposite ends, in the vertical series of apertures 16 of the rear chair legs 11, and since the foot rest 20 is supported wholly independently of the seat, obviously 'its vertical adjustment is likewise independent. At its forward end the foot rest 20 is supported from beneath by means of the adjusting device 33 Which,

at its opposite ends, is adapted to engage in said parts one to the other is the same. Through the interconnection between the seat 19 and the arms 21, which the back rest 24 affords, said parts, \in a folding operation, fold simultaneously, the arms being movable from a horizontal position at right angles to the rear chair legs 11 to a vertical position in vertical alignment therewith, The seat 19, by reason of its offset pivot axis, i. e., offset with respect to the axis of the arms 21, is likewise movable from it's unfolded horizontal position at right angles to the rear chair legs 11 to'a vertical position parallel with the then folded position of the arms, in which.position,'the seat is held by its engagement with the foot rest 20. The seat back, due to the mentioned geometrical arrangement of the pivot axes 27, 28, 29 and 30, bears the same angular relation to the rear chair legs 11 when unfolded as it does when folded, and since said seat back is jointly carried by the seat and arms, obviously it too is held in its folded or collapsed condition by the foot rest. If desired, a spring latch 35 may be provided on' the 'underface of the seat at or near its rear end to overlap and engage thefoot rest 20 when collapsed. The arms 21 of the chair, in that embodiment of the invention considered preferred, are cross connected at the rear of the chair to produce a combination cross brace and hand grip 36. By bending a single length of materlal into substantially U-shape with the bight portion thereof serving as the hand grip 36, a simple and inexpensive arm construction is evolved. Moreover, the arms 21 on their underside intermediately of their ends are notched as at 37 and on their opposite sides, at points forwardly removed, said arms are notched as at 38. These notches 37 and 38 are adapted to receive lugs 39 and 40 which are in turn carried by the tray of the chair which is designated as 41, and while any form or design of tray may be used as an accessory for the chair, I have illustrated in Fig. 8 a type of tray which is laterally reversible, one side or face thereof 42 being serviceable as a plate or dish tray, whereas the opposite side or face 43 maybe I used as a writing desk or book support.

Due to the relatively arrangement of the lugs 39 and 40 of the tray, its angular re lation to the chain arms 21 varies according to that particular use to which the tray is put. To collapse or fold the chair it is necessary that the tray 41 be bodily removed.

A chair characterized as above set forth is extremely desirable as a high chair by reason of its prolonged period of usefulness, by reason of its inherent comfort, and by reason of the ease and'simplicity with which,

it may be folded or collapsed. The wide range of adjustment accorded the various chair parts makes it admirably suited to the particular physical characteristics of its occupant and in addition it (the chair), when used at the table is adjustable to fit properly and shipped. Moreover, by so organizing the chair parts as to render each separate part independently adjustable, comfort is insured regardless of the fastidiousness of the occupants taste.

As a further convenience, the chair, if desired, may be equipped with casters 44 and with a toggle-brace 45, the latter serving as a positive lock against accidental or unintentional collapse. 1

While I have described my invention in detail in its present" preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

What is claimed is:

1. In a chair, the combination, of front to jointly provide, when unfolded, a seat' support, a seat carried by and foldable with respect to said support, and an arm rest vertically adjustable independently of the seat and likewise foldable in any of its several positions'of adjustment with respect to said support.

- 2. In a chair the combination, of front and rear legs foldably connected together, to jointly provide, when unfolded, a seat support, a seat carried by and foldable with respect ,to said support, and a foot rest vertically adjustable independently of the seat and likewise foldable in any of its several positions of adjustment with respect to said support.

3. In a chair, the combination, of front and rear legs foldably connected together, to jointly provide, when unfolded, a seat support, a seat carried by and foldable with respect to said support, and a seat back vertically adjustable independently of the seat and likewise foldable in any of its several positions of adjustment with respect to said support.

4. In a chair, the combination, of front and rear legs foldably connected together, to jointly provide, when unfolded, a seat support, a seat carried by and foldable with respect to said support, an arm rest vertically adjustable independently of the seat, and a foot rest likewise vertically adjustable independently of both the seat and the arm rest, said foot rest and said arm rest being also foldable in either of their several respective positions of adjustment with respect to said support.

and rear legs foldably connected together,

to jointly provide, when unfolded, a seat support, a seat carried by and foldable with respect to said support, a seat back carried by said seat and'adjustable independently thereof, and a foot rest carried by said seat support and adjustable independently of the seat back, said seat back and said foot restbeing foldable in either of their several respective positions of adjustment.

7. In a folding chair, the combination i of chair legs, a seat vertically adjustable relatively tosaid chair legs, an arm rest likewise vertically adjustable relatively to said chair legs, said seat and said arm rest being pivotally fastened to said chairlegs,

I and a back resthorizontally adjustable relatively to said seat and said arm rest, said back rest being pivotally fastened to both said seat and said arm rest, and the several pivot axes of said seat, said arm rest, and said back rest being so relatively arranged as to define at all times, whether the chair is folded or unfolded, the apices of a parallelogram. v

8. In a folding chair, chair legs, a vertically adjustable pivotally mounted seat, a vertically adjustable pivotally mounted arm rest, said seat and said arm rest being pivotally fastened to said legs and said arm rest adjustment being independent of said seat adjustment, and a horizontally adjustable back rest pivotally fastened to said seat and said arm rest, said back rest adjustment being independent of both the seat and arm rest adjustment, and said pivot axes bemg so arranged, regardless of whether the chair is folded or unfolded, as to collec- 'tively define at all times the apices of a parallelogram.

9. A folding chair comprising chair legs, a vertically adjustable seat and an independently vertically adjustable arm restcarr'iedby said chair legs, and an independently horizontally adjustable back rest carried jointly by said seat and said arm rest, each said chair-part being pivotally mounted in a manner such that the several pivot axes collectively define the apices of a parallelo gram. I

10. In a. chair, front and rear legs, a vertically adjustable seat, carried by said legs,

an armrest likewise carried bysaid legs,

said arm rest being vertically adjustable inde endently' of the seat, anda seat back jointly supported by the arm rest and the seat.

11. In a chair, frontand rear legs, a vertically adjustable seat carried by said legs an arm rest likewise carried by said legs. said arm rest being vertically adjustable independently of the seat, and a back rest carried jointly by the seat and arm rest, said back rest being independently adjustable horizontally relatively to said arm restand said seat.

12. In a chair, rear legs provided with two unaligned series of vertically separated apertures, front legs provided with a single series of. vertically separated. apertures, a seat, devices engaging respectively in the apertures of one of the rear leg series and in the apertures of the single front leg series to support said seat, an arm rest, devices engaging in the apertures of the other said series of the rear legs to support said arm rest at one end, said seat and said arm rest being independently adjustable, and a back rest so related to the seat and arm rest as to provide a support for the latter at a point forwardly removed from the said first mentioned point of support.

13.. In a chair, front and rear legs, a seat jointly carried by the front and rear legs,

said seat having formed in its sides a series end by the rear legs, said arm rest beingprovidedwith a series of apertures, a back rest likewise provided with a series of apertures, means engaging in one of the apertures of the seat series and with the back rest to support the latter at one end, and means engaging in one of the apertures of the back rest series and in one of the apertures of the arm rest series to support both the arm rest and the back rest at points distinctly removed from the points of support first mentioned.

14. The combination, in a folding high chair, of front and rear legs pivotally con nected and movable from an unfolded position out of to a folded-position in parallelism, a foldable seat jointly carried by the chair legs when unfolded, said seat in a folding operation being movable from a position at approximately a right angle to the rear chair legs, when unfolded, to a position in parallelism therewith when folded, an arm rest movable in alike manner with the seat in a folding operation, a back rest movable with the seat in a folding operation, the angular relation of the back rest to the rear chair legs being at all times invariable, and a' foot rest foldable independ-, ently of the seat, its position when folded being such as to bear against the seat to'hold it and the entire chair in its folded or collapsed condition.

15. A high chair' comprising laterally spaced pairs of legs encompassing a free space between their upper portions, a seat transversely supported from the pairs of legs and vertically adjustable in the said free space between them, vertically adjustable arm rests also transversely supported within said free space and by said pairs of legs, and a horizontally adjustable back rest transversely supported jointly by the seat and arms.

16. A high chair comprising laterally spaced pairs of legs encompassing a Vertically free space between their upper portions, a seat within and braced laterally by said airs of legs, transversely supported there rom and vertically adjustable within said free space, vertically adjustable arm rests also supported transversely from and braced laterally by said pairs within said free space, and a horizontally adjustable back rest transversely supported within the embrace of said arms and seat.

17. A high chair comprising laterally spaced pairs of legs in parallel planes and encompassing a vertically free space 'between them, a seat and arms respectively transversely pivotally and adjustably supported jointly from said pairs within said free space and bodily movable as a unit thru said adjustment and pivotal connection respectively vertically and also foldably within the free space aforesaid, and a back rest carried by and pivotally fastened to both said seat and arms.

18. A high chair comprising laterally spaced pairs of legs in substantially'parallel planes, encompassing a vertically free space between their upper portions, a seat and an arm rest transversely supported jointly from said pairs and vertically adjustable within said free space both with respect to said pairs of legs and with respect to each other, and a back rest supported by said seat and arms and adjustable vertically with said seat and arms and also horizontally independently thereof.

In testimony whereof I'hereunto alfix my signature.

JOHN P. TARBOX. 

